Reusable battery indicator with electrical lock and key

ABSTRACT

A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism having a connector and a retainer. The connector and the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and between the voltage sensor and the can. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/340,789, filed Nov. 1, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates generally to battery indicators and, morespecifically, relates to a reusable battery characteristic indicatorwith an electrical lock and key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrochemical cells, or batteries, are commonly used as electricalenergy sources. A battery contains a negative electrode, typicallycalled the anode, and a positive electrode, typically called thecathode. The anode contains an electrochemically active anode materialthat can be oxidized. The cathode contains an electrochemically activecathode material that can be reduced. The electrochemically active anodematerial is capable of reducing the electrochemically active cathodematerial. A separator is disposed between the anode and the cathode. Thebattery components are disposed in a can, or housing, that is typicallymade from metal.

When a battery is used as an electrical energy source in an electronicdevice, electrical contact is made to the anode and the cathode, therebycompleting a circuit that allows electrons to flow through the device,and which results in respective oxidation and reduction reactions thatproduce electrical power to the electronic device. An electrolyte is incontact with the anode, the cathode, and the separator. The electrolytecontains ions that flow through the separator between the anode andcathode to maintain charge balance throughout the battery duringdischarge.

There is a growing need for portable power for electronic devices suchas toys; remote controls; audio devices; flashlights; digital camerasand peripheral photography equipment; electronic games; toothbrushes;radios; clocks, and other portable electronic devices. Consumers need tohave power readily available for these electronic devices. Becausebatteries necessarily become depleted of power over time as they areused, consumers need to have access to spare batteries (and/or access tofully recharged rechargeable batteries). It is helpful for a consumer toknow the power state of a battery currently in use so that the consumercan have quick access to the needed number of replacement batteries.Batteries come in common sizes, such as the AA, AAA, AAAA, C, and Dbattery sizes, that have fixed external dimensions and constrainedinternal volumes per ANSI standard.

Currently, some batteries include on-cell battery charge indicators tohelp a consumer determine when a battery is nearly depleted and in needof replacement. However, these current on-cell battery charge indicatorsare single use (i.e., attached to a single battery cell) and cumbersome(because typically two contact buttons must be simultaneously depressedto activate the indicator). Additionally, these on-cell batteryindicators require removal of the battery from an electronic device (orpackage) in order to use the indicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some aspects, a reusable battery indicator includes avoltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of abattery to digital information; a communication circuit communicativelyconnected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to thecommunication circuit; and a connection mechanism having a connector anda retainer. The connector and the retainer are electrically connected tothe voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removablyconnected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electricalconnection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminalwhen the connector is connected to the first battery terminal. Theretainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of abattery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltagesensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completedbetween the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and betweenthe voltage sensor and the can when the connection mechanism is coupledto the first battery terminal and to the can. The connection mechanismincludes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

According to another aspect, a remote battery indication system includesa battery and a reusable battery indicator. The reusable batteryindicator includes a voltage sensor being configured to convert sensedanalog characteristics of a battery to digital information; acommunication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor;an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and aconnection mechanism having a connector and a retainer. The connectorand the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor. Theconnector is adapted to be removably connected to a first batteryterminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltagesensor and the first battery terminal when the first connector isconnected to the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted toremovably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, therebyproviding an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and thecan of the battery. The connector is electrically attached to a firstbattery terminal, so that the voltage sensor senses a characteristic ofthe battery. The connection mechanism includes part of an electricallock and key mechanism.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, any one or more ofthe foregoing aspects of a reusable battery indicator or a remotebattery indication system may further include any one or more of thefollowing optional forms.

In some optional forms, the connector is connected to a negativeelectrode of a battery and the retainer is connected to a positiveelectrode of the battery.

In other optional forms, the connector is one of a formed spring, aKelvin connection, including separate power and sensing terminals tomeasure impedance, a split wire, a leaf spring, and combinationsthereof.

In yet other optional forms, a voltage booster is electrically connectedto or incorporated in the voltage sensor.

In yet other optional forms, the connector comprises at least one metaland at least one insulator.

In yet other optional forms, the communication circuit comprises atleast one of radio-frequency identification circuitry, Bluetoothcircuitry, Bluetooth low energy circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, Zigbeecircuitry, LORA circuitry, and Z-wave circuitry.

In yet other optional forms, the voltage sensor is capable of reading anopen circuit voltage of less than 1.8 Volts.

In yet other optional forms, the voltage sensor, and the communicationcircuit are formed on a printed circuit board that is adapted to beinserted between a the connector and the retainer.

In yet other optional forms, the voltage sensor, and the communicationcircuit are mounted within a housing, the housing being sized and shapedto fit between two cylindrical batteries that are arranged side-by-side.

In yet other optional forms, the housing has a cross-section that is inthe shape of a triangular prism.

In yet other optional forms, the housing has one side that is concave ortwo sides that are concave.

In yet other optional forms, the housing has a volume of between about102 mm³ and about 165 mm³.

In yet other optional forms, the voltage sensor is disc-shaped to andarranged to fit one end of a cylindrical battery cell.

In yet other optional forms, the voltage sensor is a thin disc BLE, UHF,or RF module.

In other optional forms, a computing device is communicatively connectedto the communication circuit, and the computing device receivesinformation from the communication circuit through the antenna.

In yet other optional forms, the computing device includes a processorand a memory, the memory storing a software routine that causes theprocessor to detect a wireless communication signal from the reusablebattery indicator, to remotely control battery circuitry through thereusable battery indicator to determine battery characteristic data; andto send the battery characteristic data to a user interface.

In yet other optional forms, the battery characteristic data comprisesat least one of an electrical capacity; a voltage; an impedance, atemperature, a current; an age, a charge/discharge cycle count, and acoulomb count.

In yet other optional forms, the software routine, when executed by theprocessor, causes the processor to determine at least one of a batterytype, a physical location of the battery, and an electrical device thatthe battery is powering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter, which is regarded as formingthe present invention, the invention will be better understood from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reusable battery indicator constructedin accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, the reusable batteryindicator being connected to a battery cell.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the reusable battery indicator ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is side cross-sectional view of the reusable battery indicatorand battery cell of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an electronic circuit schematic diagram of the reusablebattery indicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a printed circuit board of the reusablebattery indicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of a third embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of thedisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a battery compartment of anelectronic device including two battery cells and a fourth embodiment ofa reusable battery indicator that is connected to one of the batterycells.

FIG. 9 is a is a schematic diagram of a battery indication systemincluding the reusable battery indicator of FIG. 1

FIGS. 10A and 10B are top and bottom perspective views of a fifthembodiment of a reusable battery indicator and a battery cell.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are top and bottom perspective views of a sixthembodiment of a reusable battery indicator and a battery cell.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are top and bottom perspective views of a seventhembodiment of a reusable battery indicator and a battery cell.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are top and bottom perspective views of a eighthembodiment of a reusable battery indicator and a battery cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Electrochemical cells, or batteries, may be primary or secondary.Primary batteries are meant to be discharged, e.g., to exhaustion, onlyonce and then discarded. Primary batteries (or disposable batteries) aredescribed, for example, in David Linden, Handbook of Batteries (4^(th)ed. 2011). Secondary batteries (or rechargeable batteries) are intendedto be recharged and used over and over again. Secondary batteries may bedischarged and recharged many times, e.g., more than fifty times, ahundred times, or more. Secondary batteries are described, for example,in David Linden, Handbook of Batteries (4^(th) ed. 2011). Accordingly,batteries may include various electrochemical couples and electrolytecombinations. Although the description and examples provided herein aregenerally directed towards primary alkaline electrochemical cells, orbatteries, it should be appreciated that the invention applies to bothprimary and secondary batteries of aqueous, nonaqueous, ionic liquid,and solid state systems. Primary and secondary batteries of theaforementioned systems are thus within the scope of this application andthe invention is not limited to any particular embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 a primary alkaline electrochemical cell, or batterycell 10, is illustrated that includes a cathode 12, an anode 14, and ahousing 18. The battery cell 10 also includes an end cap 24. The end cap24 serves as a negative terminal of the battery cell 10. A positive pip26 is located at the opposite end of the battery cell 10 from the endcap 24. The positive pip 26 serves as a positive terminal of the batterycell 10. An electrolytic solution is dispersed throughout the batterycell 10. The battery cell 10 can be, for example, a AA, AAA, AAAA, C, orD alkaline battery. Additionally, in other embodiments, the battery cell10 can be a 9V battery, a camera battery, a watch battery, or any othertype of primary or secondary battery.

The housing 18 can be made of any suitable type of housing basematerial, for example cold-rolled steel or nickel-plated cold-rolledsteel. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing 18 may havea cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, the housing 18 may have anyother suitable, non-cylindrical shape. The housing 18, for example, mayhave a shape comprising at least two parallel plates, such as arectangular, square, or prismatic shape. The housing 18 may be, forexample, deep-drawn from a sheet of the base material, such ascold-rolled steel or nickel-plated steel. The housing 18 may be, forexample, drawn into a cylindrical shape. The housing 18 may have asidewall. The interior surface of the sidewall of the housing 18 may betreated with a material that provides a low electrical-contactresistance between the interior surface of the sidewall of the housing18 and an electrode, such as the cathode 12. The interior surface of thesidewall of the housing 18 may be plated, e.g., with nickel, cobalt,and/or painted with a carbon-loaded paint to decrease contact resistancebetween, for example, the internal surface of the sidewall of thehousing 18 and the cathode 12.

Attached to the battery cell 10 is one embodiment of communicationmechanism, such as a reusable battery indicator 40. The reusable batteryindicator 40 attaches to one end of the housing 18, in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1, to the negative or end cap 24 end of the housing18. The reusable battery indicator 40 includes an integrated circuit,which may be incorporated into a printed circuit board (PCB) 42 (in oneembodiment, the PCB is a multi-layered insulator/conductive structurethat can be a rigid epoxy, FR4 phelonic with bonded copper traces, or aflexible polyester, polyamide with bonded copper traces), which issandwiched between a first connector 44 that is electrically connectedto the PCB 42, and a retainer 46 that is electrically connected to thePCB 42. The first connector 44 and the retainer 46 form part of anelectrical lock and key mechanism 39, which will be further describedbelow.

The PCB 42 may have a generally annular shape, as illustrated in FIG. 1,and the PCB 42 may extend into a flexible PCB 43, which extends along anouter surface of the housing 18, generally away from the first connector44 and from the retainer 46. At one end of the flexible PCB 43,additional electrical components may be located, such as a chip antenna45, an IC, an IC with integral antenna, or passive components. Placingsome electrical components, such as the antenna 45, at one end of theflexible PCB 43 may provide a more advantageous location for certainelectrical components. For example, locating the antenna 45 at one endof the flexible PCB 43 may provide better transmission characteristicsthan locating the antenna closer to the first connector 44 and to theretainer 46. The antenna 45 may also be formed as an integral part ofthe flexible PCB 43 or of the rigid PCB 42 as part of the copper tracelayer.

The first connector 44 may be removably and electrically connected tothe end cap 24 to form a negative electrical connection and the retainer46 may be removably and electrically connected to the housing 18, whichgenerally has a positive electrical charge, to form a positiveelectrical connection. The first connector 44 and the retainer 46 maytake virtually any physical form that allows the first connector 44 andthe retainer 46 to form electrical connections with the battery cell 10and the PCB 42 and that does not impede normal device terminal access.The first connector 44 and the retainer 46 may be formed from virtuallyany material that transmits analog information, such as electricalinformation, from the battery cell to the PCB 42. For example, in someembodiments, the first connector 44 and retainer 46 may be formed fromone or more of the following materials, a metal, a metal alloy,cold-rolled steel, hard drawn ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, high andlow carbon steel alloys, post or pre-plated ferrous and non-ferrousalloys, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, at least one ofthe first connector 44 and the retainer 46 may comprise a metal and aninsulator. In some embodiments, an insulator may be a non-conductivecoating (such as a polymer layer, epoxy, or passivate) that is appliedto the connector/retainer or an additional insulator ring (such aspaper, phenolic, or polymer).

Generally, the integrated circuit receives electrical information, suchas amperes or volts from the first connector 44 and from the retainer46, and the electrical information is used by the integrated circuit tocalculate battery characteristic information, such as power or chargelevel, and the integrated circuit then transmits the batterycharacteristic information to a receiver, such as a computer, a smartphone, or a personal digital assistant, for use by the consumer. In thisway, the reusable battery indicator 40 allows a consumer to acquire thebattery characteristic information without removing the battery cellfrom an electronic device (or from a package). The first connector 44and the retainer 46 deliver the electrical information to the integratedcircuit without interfering with electrical contacts between the batterycell and the electronic device. Furthermore, the reusable batteryindicator 40 is movable from one battery cell to another battery cell soas to be reused over and over again, thereby reducing the overall costto a consumer.

Referring to FIG. 2, the reusable battery indicator 40 is illustrated inmore detail. The first connector 44 is annularly shaped and located onan opposite side of the PCB 42 from the retainer 46, which is alsoannularly shaped. The first connector 44 includes a central opening 47,which is sized and shaped to surround a raised central portion of theend cap 24. Similarly, the retainer 46 includes a central opening 49that is sized and shaped to surround the raised central portion of theend cap 24. Thus, the first connector 44, the PCB 42, and the retainer46 form a ring-shaped (or annularly-shaped) sandwich structure that issized to fit on one end (the negative end) of the battery cell 10.

The first connector 44 includes a plurality of connector tabs 51. Theconnector tabs 51 extend away from the first connector 44 and towardsthe retainer 46. The connector tabs 51 are spaced radially inward(towards a center of the central opening 47) from the retainer 46. Morespecifically, the connector tabs 51 are separated from the retainer 46by the PCB 42. The connector tabs 51 are arranged to contact the end cap24 of the battery cell 10, as will be further explained below.Additionally, the connector tabs 51 include crimped ends 53, whichfacilitate a removable connection with the end cap 24.

The retainer 46 includes a plurality of retainer tabs 55. The retainertabs 55 extend away from the first connector 44. The retainer tabs 55are spaced radially outward (away from a center of the central opening59). More specifically, the retainer tabs 55 are separated from thefirst connector 44 by the PCB 42. The retainer tabs 55 are arranged tocontact the can or housing 18 of the battery cell 10, as will be furtherexplained below. Additionally, the retainer tabs 51 include crimped ends57, which facilitate a removable connection with the housing 18.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the PCB 42 is radially thicker than theretainer 46. As a result, the retainer tabs 55 are located radiallyoutward of the connector tabs 51. The retainer tabs 55 extend into a canvoid 59 that is formed between a crimped wall 61 of the housing 18 andthe end cap 24. As the battery indicator 40 is pressed onto the end cap24, the crimped ends 57 of the retainer tabs 55 are pushed radiallyinward until the crimped ends 57 pass over an end of the crimped wall 61of the housing 18, at which point, the crimped ends 57 expand radiallyoutward to removably lock the retainer 46 in place on the end of thehousing 18 and to provide a positive electrical connection (because thehousing carries a positive charge).

Similarly, the connector tabs 51 extend into the can void 59, but theconnector tabs 51 are located against the end cap 24. As the batteryindicator 40 is pressed onto the end cap, the connector tabs 51 arepushed radially outward, which maintains physical contact between theconnector tabs 51 and the end cap to provide a negative electricalconnection (because the end cap carries a negative charge). As a result,the PCB 42 receives electrical information (e.g., volts and amperes)through the connector tabs 51 and through the retainer tabs 55.

The electrical lock and key mechanism 39 comprises the first connector44, the retainer 46, the crimped wall 61, the end cap 24, and the canvoid 59. Essentially, the can void 59, which is formed by the spacebetween the crimped wall 61 and the end cap 24, forms an electrical lockassembly 70. The can void 59 is arranged so that connection to thepositive terminal of the battery cell 10 is available on one side (theradially outward side in FIG. 3) and connection to the negative terminalof the battery cell 10 is available on the other side (the radiallyinward side in FIG. 3). In other embodiments, the positive and negativeconnections may be reversed.

An electrical key 80 comprises the connector tabs 51 and the retainertabs 55 and the PCB 42 may be electrically connected in series betweenthe connector tabs 51 and the retainer tabs 55. Electrical connectionscan only be established if the electrical key 80 is formed to correctlycontact the electrical lock 70 when the battery indicator 40 isconnected to one end of the battery cell 10. Without the radial spacingof the connector tabs 51 and the retainer tabs 55, the battery indicator40 would not establish the correct electrical connections and thebattery indicator 40 would not receive power, and/or the batteryindicator 40 would not receive the battery characteristic informationthat is used by the integrated circuit. For example, the connector tabs51 and the retainer tabs 55 may not come into contact with one anotheror create a condition where a substantially low electrical impedanceexists between the connector tabs 51 and the retainer tabs 55.Furthermore, any intended rotation or motion of the connector tabs 51and retainer tabs 55 with respect to one another may not cause suchcontact or low electrical impedance.

In other embodiments, an electrical lock circuit could be formed in thecrimped wall 61 in a manner in which contact by the retainer tabs 55completes the electrical lock circuit and the integrated circuit wouldallow the battery characteristic analysis to continue only if theelectrical lock circuit was completed. Such an electrical lock circuitwould supplement the electrical lock and key mechanism 39 describedabove.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, formed on the PCB 42 is an integratedcircuit 48, that includes an embedded voltage sensor 50 within theintegrated circuit 48 that is communicatively connected to the firstconnector 44 and to the retainer 46. The embedded voltage sensor 50senses analog characteristics of the battery cell, such as amperes andvoltage, and converts the sensed analog characteristics to digitalinformation. The PCB 42 also includes a communication circuit 52. Anantenna 54 is operatively coupled to the communication circuit 52. Thecommunication circuit 52 may comprise one or more of a radio-frequencyidentification circuit, a Bluetooth® circuit, a Bluetooth® low energycircuit, a Wi-Fi circuit, a Zigbee® circuit, a LORA circuit, and aZ-wave circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, such as awireless Bluetooth Low-Energy voltage sensor, may incorporate the analogto digital converter, a microcontroller, a Bluetooth radio, a memorydevice, and a DC/DC voltage converter.

A voltage booster 56 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit48 and the embedded voltage sensor 50. The embedded voltage sensor 50and the voltage booster 56 are capable of reading the open circuitvoltage of the battery that may be, for example, less than 1.8 volts. Insome embodiments, the communication circuit 52 may comprise one or moreof a thin disc BLE module, a UHF module, or a RF module.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the integrated circuit48, the voltage sensor 50, and the communication circuit 52 are allformed on the PCB 42, which is connected to the first connector 44 andto the retainer 46. However, in other embodiments, the integratedcircuit 48, the voltage sensor 50, and the communication circuit 52 maybe formed as separate components that are communicatively andoperatively connected to one another.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, similar elements are numberedexactly 100 greater than elements numbered in FIGS. 1-5. For example,the battery cell is numbered 10 in FIGS. 1-4 and the battery cell isnumbered 110 in FIG. 6. Unless stated otherwise, any element from anyillustrated embodiment may be incorporated into any other illustratedembodiment.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the reusable batteryindicator 140 is attached to a battery cell 110. The reusable batteryindicator 140 is illustrated and located between two battery cells 110.In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the reusable battery indicator 140 includesa housing 198 that has only a single concave side able to fit into andup to the entire triangular prism void area delineated by the one ormore batteries and the battery receptacle.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative housing shape area for which thereusable battery indicator can fit into. In this embodiment, the housing298 is arranged to fit in the void formed by two cylindrical batterycells 210 that are arranged side by side and oriented such that therespective longitudinal axes of the battery cells 210 are parallel toone another. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the housing 298has a cross-sectional shape that is defined by the following equation:

A _(v)=(D _(B) ²−Π/4×D _(B) ²)/2, where

A_(v) is the cross-sectional area of the housing 298; and

D_(B) is a diameter of one battery cell 210.

A housing having a cross-sectional shape defined by the precedingequation maximizes the usable space between the battery cells. Forexample, a housing having the cross-sectional shape defined above wouldresult in the following housing volumes for the given battery sizes(assuming that the housing length was equal to the battery cell length).For a AAA battery, the housing would have a volume of 526 mm³; and for aAA battery, the housing would have a volume of 1140 mm³. In otherembodiments, the housing may have a cross-sectional shape that fitswithin the shape A_(v), or that fits within a shape equal to A_(v)/2 inthe case of a single battery cavity. For example, the housing may have across-sectional shape that is one of rectangular, trapezoidal,elliptical, semi-circular, and variable prism that fits within one ofthe above described voids.

Turning now to FIG. 8, yet another alternative embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 340 is illustrated. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, thereusable battery indicator includes a housing 398, the integratedcircuit, the voltage sensor, and the communication circuit being mountedwithin the housing 398. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the housing 398 issized and shaped to fit between two cylindrical battery cells 310 thatare arranged longitudinally side-by-side. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 8, the housing 398 has a cross-section that is in the shape of atriangular prism. More specifically, the housing 398 has a first side397 that is concave and a second side 399 that is concave. In theembodiment of FIG. 8, the reusable battery indicator 340 is mountedbetween the battery cells 310 and within a battery receptacle 395 of anelectronic device 400.

Turning now to FIG. 9, a computing device 800 is communicativelyconnected to the communication circuit in the reusable battery indicator740. The computing device receives information from the communicationcircuit through wireless signals sent by the antenna in the reusablebattery indicator 740. For example, the wireless signal may be one ormore of a wifi signal, a Bluetooth® signal, a RFID signal, or any otherwireless signal. In other embodiments, the computing device 800 and thereusable battery indicator 740 may communicatively connected by a wiredconnection.

The computing device 800 includes a processor 802 and a memory 804. Thememory 804 may store processor executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor 802, cause the processor 802 to detect awireless communication signal from the reusable battery indicator 740.In some embodiments the memory 804 may comprise a non-transitorycomputer readable medium with the processor executable instructionsembedded thereon as an article of manufacture. The processor executableinstructions may also cause the processor 802 to send wireless signalsback to the reusable battery indicator 740 to remotely control batterycircuitry through the reusable battery indicator 740. In this manner,the processor 802 may cause the reusable battery indicator 740 todetermine battery characteristic data; and to send the batterycharacteristic data to a user interface, such as a display 806 on thecomputing device 800.

In some embodiments, the battery characteristic data may comprise atleast one of an electrical capacity; a voltage; an impedance, atemperature, a current; an age, a charge/discharge cycle count, and acoulomb count.

In other embodiments, the processor executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor 802, causes the processor 802 to determine atleast one of a battery type, a physical location of the battery, and anelectrical device that the battery is powering by communicating with thereusuable battery indicator 740.

Turning now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, yet another embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 540 is illustrated. The reusable battery indicator 540is attached to a battery cell 510. The reusable battery indicator 540includes a PCB 542, a first connector 544, and a second connector 546.While the battery cell 510 in FIGS. 10A and 10B is illustrated as a AAsize battery, the illustration is not intended to limit the reusablebattery indicator 540 to the illustrated battery cell 510. Rather, thereusable battery indicator 540 may be sized and shaped to fit virtuallyany battery cell, especially those battery cell sizes listed elsewherein the specification.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the first connector544 and the second connector 546 comprise flexible wires. The flexiblewires may be formed as spring wires (from hard drawn ferrous andnon-ferrous spring alloys) that capture the positive battery terminaland the negative battery terminal to transmit electricalcharacteristics, such as voltage and amperes, to the integrated circuitformed on the PCB 542. In one embodiment, the spring wires may be formedof ASTM A228 music wire with re or post nickel plating to enhanceconductivity, to reduce contact resistance, and to provide corrosionresistance.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the flexible wiresinclude a first end, which is connected to a positive terminal on thePCB 542 and a second end, which is also connected to the positiveterminal on the PCB 542. Other embodiments may include single endedwires. The flexible wires are oriented substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of the battery cell 510. The flexible wires form endloops 576, 588, which lie in a plane that is substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the battery cell 510. The end loop 576 issized and shaped to fit around the positive terminal of the battery cell510 and the end loop 588 is sized and shaped to fit around the negativeterminal. As a result, the flexible wire forms a positive electricalpathway from the positive battery terminal to the positive terminal onthe PCB 542 and from the negative battery terminal to the negativeterminal on the PCB 542. Moreover, the flexible wires may be formed toproduce a spring force that biases the flexible wires into the attachedposition illustrated in FIG. 10A, while allowing the flexible wires tobe temporarily deformed by a user to remove the reusable batteryindicator 540 from the battery cell 510 when desired, as illustrated inFIG. 10B.

In some embodiments, one or more of the flexible wires may include aconductive magnet, or the one or more of the flexible wires may beformed from conductive magnetic material, to provide additionalretention force between the first flexible wires and the batteryterminals.

In other embodiments, one or more of the flexible wires may be formed asa Kelvin connection, including separate power and sensing terminals, tomeasure impedance. Additionally, in alternate embodiments, the flexiblewires need not be formed as a single continuous wire, but may be formedas multiple wire pieces, for example, two wire pieces that are separatedby a small distance in the end loop.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10A and 10B, an electronic lock and keymechanism 539 includes a split matching antenna network as part of awireless module antenna 501. A first electronic lock, which is formed asa printed electronic component on the battery label, includes a carbonfilm resistor or capacitor 503 that tunes or de-tunes the wirelessmodule antenna 501. In other words, the wireless module antenna 501requires the presence of the capacitor 503 (and thus the battery 510)for completion and tuning of the antenna circuit. A split capacitor maybe created using a conductive plate 505 on the underside of the wirelessmodule antenna 501 and a conductive plate 507 on the backside of thebattery label film (facing the cell can) with the PVC battery labelacting as a dielectric between the two capacitor plates. Splitcapacitors may also be used as a passive component which is part of theelectronic module enable circuitry.

Turning now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, yet another embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 640 is illustrated. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11A and11B, an electronic lock and key assembly 639 is formed by a Hall-effectsensor and circuit 605 on the electronic module and a printed magneticstrip 607, array, or symbol on the battery 610 label. Installation ofthe electronic module onto the battery creates a coupled magnetic sensorsystem. Rotation or translation of the electronic module (relative tothe battery) results in a magnetic field pulse generated in thehall-effect sensor. Signal conditioning circuitry on the electronicmodule generates an enable pulse to the electronic module radio therebyenabling functionality.

Turning now to FIGS. 12A and 12B, yet another embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 740 is illustrated. The reusable battery indicator 740includes an electronic lock and key assembly 739. The electronic lockand key assembly 739 includes a lock, such as an optical ID reflectivepattern 707, text, or, symbol on the battery 710 label and an opticaltransmitter/sensor 705 on the electronic module. Installation of theelectronic module onto the optical ID reflective pattern 707 creates acoupled system. Presence, rotation or translation of the electronicmodule (relative to the battery) results in a varied optical signalrelative to sensing reflective changes of the label pattern. Use of aluminous (e.g., fluorescent) coating on the label may create a responsesensor to enable electronic module functionality. In other embodiments,a light generator/sensor on the electronic module may activate thefluorescent coating with a led flash during initial power-up and maysense residual photon activity which activates electronic moduleoperation. Alternately, use of a printed carbon/iron matrix pattern inconjunction with a magnetic field generator to sense eddy currentsrelated to a particular pattern may enable electronic modulefunctionality. Optional use of a reflective opto-isolator at a setreflective angle in conjunction with a curved reflective element onbattery surface may also enable electronic module functionality. In someembodiments, a Fresnel lens (flip/flop) or a louvered mask may isolatereflected light (visible, UV, IR) to a particular vector matched to thereceiver vector.

Turning now to FIGS. 13A and 13B, yet another embodiment of a reusablebattery indicator 840 is illustrated. The reusable battery indicator 840includes an electronic lock and key assembly 839. The electronic lockand key assembly 839 includes a capacitive coupling connection having alabel capacitive connector 807, which may be a foil pad with label micropiercings, and the electronic module has companion foil pad 805 with adeformable conductive polymer. When the foil pad 805 contacts the labelcapacitive connector 807, electronic functionality is enabled. In theembodiment of FIGS. 13A and 13B, the label capacity connector 807 is inthe form of a conductive strip or ring on the product label, whichcreates an electrical coupling when the electronic module is installedon the battery 810. The conductive label strip may be formed by anadhesive metal that is foil applied to the battery label or is printeddirectly on the battery label with a conductive ink (e.g.,carbon/graphite or metal loaded ink). The conductive label stripprovides resistive, capacitive, or inductive characteristics provided bymetal alloy characteristics or metal loading of the conductive ink. Anelectronic module measuring or response circuit may be tuned to theelectrical characteristics of the conductive strip to providecommunication or function only the authorized strip completes thecircuit.

In other yet other embodiments, a reflective aperture may be used toisolate a radio wave to a particular direction and to provide adirectional receiver antenna tuned to receive from that particulardirection. In yet other embodiments, a user may be required to scan thebattery label and to authorize activation of the electronic module witha software application that enables electronic module functionality.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application and any patent application or patent to which thisapplication claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded orotherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission thatit is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimedherein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other referenceor references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention.Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in thisdocument conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in adocument incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assignedto that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable battery indicator comprising: avoltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of abattery to digital information; a communication circuit communicativelyconnected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to thecommunication circuit; and a connection mechanism having a connector anda retainer, the connector being electrically connected to the voltagesensor, the connector being adapted to be removably and electricallyconnected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electricalconnection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminalwhen the battery end cap connector is connected to the first batteryterminal, and the retainer being adapted to be removably andelectrically connected to a can of a battery, thereby providing anelectrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of thebattery; wherein the connection mechanism includes part of an electricallock and key connection with the first battery terminal and with thebattery can.
 2. The reusable battery indicator of claim 1, wherein theretainer is electrically connected to a positive battery cathode throughthe battery can and the connector is electrically connected to anegative battery anode through the first battery terminal.
 3. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 2, wherein the connector includes aconnector tab that extends away from the connector, the connector tabforming an electrical connection with the first battery terminal.
 4. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 3, wherein voltage sensor and thecommunication circuit are formed on a printed circuit board and theconnector is an annular platform that is electrically connected to afirst side of the printed circuit board.
 5. The reusable batteryindicator of claim 4, wherein the retainer is electrically connected toa second side of the printed circuit board.
 6. The reusable batteryindicator of claim 5, wherein the retainer includes a retainer tab thatextends away from the connector, the retainer tab being adapted to forman electrical connection with the battery can.
 7. The reusable batteryindicator of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of connector tabsand plurality of retainer tabs, the plurality of connector tabs beingdisposed radially outward of the plurality of retainer tabs.
 8. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 1, further comprising a voltagebooster electrically connected to the voltage sensor.
 9. The reusablebattery indicator of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitcomprises at least one of radio-frequency identification circuitry,Bluetooth circuitry, Bluetooth low energy circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry,Zigbee circuitry, LORA circuitry, and Z-wave circuitry.
 10. The reusablebattery indicator of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor is capable ofreading an open circuit voltage of less than 1.8 Volts.
 11. The reusablebattery indicator of claim 1, further comprising a housing, the voltagesensor, and the communication circuit being mounted within the housing,the housing being sized and shaped to fit between two cylindricalbatteries that are arranged side-by-side.
 12. The reusable batteryindicator of claim 11, wherein the housing has a cross-section that isin the shape of a triangular prism.
 13. The reusable battery indicatorof claim 12, wherein the housing has one side that is concave.
 14. Thereusable battery indicator of claim 12, wherein the housing has twosides that are concave.
 15. The universal, reusable battery indicator ofclaim 1, wherein the voltage sensor is a thin disc BLE, UHF, or RFmodule.
 16. An electronic device comprising the reusable batteryindicator of claim 1, wherein the reusable battery indicator is mountedwithin a battery receptacle of the electronic device.
 17. A remotebattery indication system, the system comprising: a computing device; abattery; and a reusable battery indicator, the reusable batteryindicator including a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analogcharacteristics of a battery to digital information; a communicationcircuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antennaoperatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connectionmechanism having a connector and a retainer, the connector beingelectrically connected to the voltage sensor, the connector beingadapted to be removably and electrically connected to a first batteryterminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltagesensor and the first battery terminal when the connector is connected tothe first battery terminal, and the retainer being adapted to beremovably and electrically connected to a can of a battery, therebyproviding an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and thecan of the battery; wherein the connector and the retainer form part ofan electrical lock and key connection with the first battery terminaland with the battery can, respectively.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the computing device includes a processor and a memory, thememory storing a software routine that causes the processor to detect awireless communication signal from the reusable battery indicator, toremotely control battery circuitry through the reusable batteryindicator to determine battery characteristic data; and to send thebattery characteristic data to a user interface.
 19. The system of claim18, wherein the battery characteristic data comprises at least one of anelectrical capacity; a voltage; an impedance, a temperature, a current;an age, a charge/discharge cycle count, and a coulomb count.
 20. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the software routine, when executed by theprocessor, causes the processor to determine at least one of a batterytype, a physical location of the battery, and an electrical device thatthe battery is powering.
 21. A battery with an electrical lock portionof an electrical lock and key assembly, the battery comprising: ahousing, the housing having an electrical lock portion in an outersurface thereof.
 22. The battery of claim 21, wherein electrical lockportion is one of a carbon film resistor or a capacitor.
 23. The batteryof claim 21, wherein the electrical lock portion is a conductive plate.24. The battery of claim 21, wherein the electrical lock portion is aprinted magnetic strip.
 25. The battery of claim 21, wherein theelectrical lock portion is an optical pattern.
 26. The battery of claim21, wherein the electrical lock portion is a foil pad withmicro-piercings.